A convicted sex offender who was caught accessing images of child sexual abuse on his mobile phone has been jailed for four years.
David Haley ignored measures imposed by the courts to prevent him from reoffending and also used the device to share illegal images online and fantasise about abusing young children.
Haley had previously been sentenced in 2015 to more than six years imprisonment, for a sexual assault and other offences relating to indecent images of children.
Upon his release from prison he was made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which placed restrictions on his use of devices which could access the internet. Any devices he did possess would need to be made available for inspection on request by a police officer or staff.
Random checks by police
On 5 September 2021, officers made an unannounced visit to his home in Marden.
An examination of his phone revealed Haley had been accessing hundreds of illegal images, which included child sexual abuse.
Evidence also showed Haley used an online alias, of Amy, and that he discussed abusing children with other users. He used apps to send and receive messages and images, with settings configured to delete after viewing.
The 40-year-old was charged with three counts of making indecent images of children and two counts of possessing extreme pornographic images.
He was further charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order and for failing to comply with a notification requirement (relating to the sex offenders register).
Haley pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court. He was sentenced on Thursday 20 October 2022, to four years’ imprisonment with an extended licence period of a further four years. He will remain on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
Strict measures
Police Investigator Lee Sinden, of the Offender Management Unit, said: ‘Haley had been the subject of strict measures designed to reduce the risk of him reoffending. He has been unable to adhere to these restrictions and has demonstrated a clear determination to access illegal and harmful images, many of which include the horrific abuse of children.
‘In passing this extended sentence, the judge has recognised he poses a serious risk of further offences to children. Sexual harm prevention orders are passed by the courts to help protect children and as this case shows, we will do everything we can to ensure those who ignore them face the consequences of their actions.’